Record Number Qualify Despite Sluggish Housing Market

Bearden said the production achievements of the 2009 group are even more remarkable because much of the nation is still in the throes of the worst housing recession in three decades: “Their focus is on their ability to deliver superior customer service. I congratulate each and every one of them.”

You can follow HouseHunt.com on both Facebook and Twitter by clicking on the following links:

HouseHunt.com Fan Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Huntington-Beach-CA/HouseHuntcom/286964576537

Follow HouseHunt.com on Twitter: http://twitter.com/househunt_inc

John Jaskolka and Nancy Richardson represent the exclusive community of Barefoot Resort, SC. John became a HouseHunt member agent in 2005 and Nancy joined soon after.

In a recent message to HouseHunt, Nancy reported having an upswing in business in their local market.

“While HouseHunt has always paid for itself for John and I, the leads seem to be more serious,” Nancy said. “This change happened within the past 45 days or so.”

A real boom in serious buyers has been the largest impact.

“I have four pending sales that are directly from HouseHunt and one other that is an indirect result of your service,” Nancy explained.

John and Nancy discussed the activity increase and agreed neither is doing anything differently. They still call leads immediately, follow up consistently, and strive to satisfy the real estate needs of every customer equally.

“The market is indeed shifting and the quality of buyers has greatly improved,” Nancy said.

The next few months look extremely promising for John and Nancy as they are positioned to close several transactions and earn more income.

Key Housing Indicators Most Positive In Two Years, Survey Finds

If you think your local housing market is heating up, you’re probably right.

Just look at the results of the most recent – and most positive – HouseHunt Current Market Conditions national survey in two years and you will find plenty of reasons for consumers to be optimistic.

HouseHunt’s random survey of member-agents, conducted in the fourth quarter of 2009, found the following:

• Affordable pricing is the number one reason given by buyers purchasing homes now. Job and population growth is number two.

• Average time on the market needed from listing to contract is steadily shrinking. Currently, 65% of sellers report that it is taking 60 days or more to sell. A year ago the percentage was 94%.

• First-time buyers are dominating the market for the seventh straight quarter, accounting for 66% of all sales. Repeat and move-up buyers represent 34% of activity. The federal $8,000 and $6,500 first-time home buyer tax credits, extended in December, are expected to continue as strong motivators in the first half of 2010.

• Annual price appreciation gained in the fourth quarter, with 42% reporting gains of zero to 10%. The number of homeowners reporting negative appreciation in the past year dropped from 77% to 62% in the same quarter.

• The ask vs. sale price ratio continues to stabilize across much of the country. Fifty-five percent of sellers say they are getting up to 95% of their asking prices, on average, while 45% say they are receiving 95% or more.

• Also stabilizing is the buyer-seller ratio, with sellers holding a 58% edge. A 50-50 ratio would indicate a more balanced market between supply and demand.

• Sellers are reporting a big gain over a year ago in multiple offers. Currently, 65% say they are getting more than one offer, on average, compared with only 39% in the fourth quarter of 2008.

• Finally, a slow but steady gain is reported in the unsold inventory of existing homes. Currently, 17% of member-agents report a limited supply, up from 6% a year ago. The National Association of Realtors estimates a six and one-half month supply across the country – a steady improvement over the past year.

“Our latest survey results are strong indicators that the national housing recovery is near – and could begin as soon as the second half of this year,” observed Michael Bearden, president and CEO of HouseHunt, Inc. “History tells us that recoveries start house by house and spread neighborhood by neighborhood. Extensions of the federal tax credits to first-time buyers have been positive motivators in the marketplace. Financing, foreclosures, short sales and homeowners who have lost large amounts of equity are still very real problems still to be solved and could stall the recovery. Overall, we’re very optimistic that the worst is behind us.”

Reporting a surge of business in the past 30 to 60 days is Teresa Cline, associate broker for Liz Moore & Associates and exclusive HouseHunt member-agent for Newport News, VA: “We’re in a very strong buyers market throughout our Peninsula communities of Hampton, Poquoson, York County and Newport News. Federal tax credits are available and home prices have moved downward from recent highs. As a result, people who couldn’t buy a house two years ago are able to buy now.”

Cline continued: “Our overall market is active in virtually all price ranges. Lower prices are providing more buying opportunities for both first-time buyers and move-up buyers. With a large military population, financing is readily available through VA and FHA. Prices range from $150,000 to a million dollars. Average price home is $275,000 to $300,000. Most sellers say they are getting 90 to 95% of asking prices”.

Also reporting a pickup in business in the past 30-60 days is Greg Olson of RE/MAX Suburban Realty in Arlington Heights, IL, exclusive HouseHunt member-agent for Schaumburg, IL, in the Chicago metro area. “I’ve been very busy since mid-November, working mostly with first-time buyers wanting to cash in on the federal tax credit before the tax credits expire, and with investors,” Olson said. “I have 28 properties to show this weekend, and that’s a very good sign. I’m finding that there are lots of potential buyers out there even though financing is still difficult to obtain. Best selling prices are in the $175,000 to $225,000 range.”

Karen Taussing of Karen Taussing Realty, exclusive HouseHunt member-agent for Oxnard, CA, and the Channel Islands, describes her marketplace as the “best kept secret” in Southern California. “People just don’t realize that Oxnard is located on the Pacific Ocean and is a beautiful seaside community in which to live. Neither do they realize the good buys available.” Taussing, who works work exclusively with buyers, continued: “I service two very distinctive housing markets. One of multi-million dollar ocean front homes and the other of homes that have hit rock bottom prices and are starting to rebound. Homes priced $200,000 to $300,000 are snapped up immediately.” To attract more home buyers to this area, Taussing said city officials are attempting to re-brand the area as Oxnard Beach or Channel Islands. “Visibility from the 101 (Ventura Freeway) is part of the problem because of some rundown properties along it. However, visitors driving on Pacific Coast Highway see our new marina and some of the best-priced beachfront property available anywhere.”

Scott Carrier of Keller Williams Realty Greater Memphis, exclusive HouseHunt member-agent for Germantown and Collierville, TN, said his business has been booming since the end of December. “We’re getting lots of good quality leads, especially in Collierville. Before that, our overall business was stagnant,” he said. “Fed-Ex, a major employer here, let 500 people go last summer. That caused potential buyers to fear more layoffs. Plus, our relocation business is down about 70%. Financing is difficult to obtain for even normal buyers.” Carrier continued: “Lately, most of our business is coming from first-time buyers trying to qualify for the federal tax credits before they expire again. Our repeat buyers are seeing that they can sell their homes to the first-time buyers and can also take advantage of the higher end properties, which are hurting price-wise.” Carrier said his marketplaces haven’t seen the massive spikes in prices that others have experienced. “We’ve seen a decrease of about nine percent.” He said home sellers are currently averaging 94 to 98% of their asking prices.

HouseHunt’s Quarterly Comparison Chart for U.S.

HouseHunt, Inc, is a consumer-oriented Internet firm that provides free information and services to homeowners, home buyers and home sellers in 47 states through its member-agents and through its primary web site, HouseHunt.com.

HouseHunt regularly plays host to webinars featuring some of our most successful agents who share the tips and techniques they use along with their HouseHunt territories. What follows is a highlight of one of our most successful webinars from 2009, “Off and Running Towards a Successful 2009. The panel for this webinar included Ted Tyndall of Davidson Realty Inc., of St. Augustine, Florida and other agents representing Littleton Colorado & Nashville, Tennessee.

Among the most interesting things we learned from the panel were:

- Buyers will visit multiple sites, and nearly 85% of your competition won’t call, so call your customers back immediately!!! Keep calling until you get them. Our agents are always told, “You were the first person to call.”

- It’s a numbers game. Build your database and never give up on a customer. Brian closed a deal after four years and closed another that came in disguised as Fred Flintstone!

- It pays to be positive! Avoid negativity and simply smile. Smile on listing appointments and even smile when you call your customers. Your excitement and confidence will come through, even over the phone.

- Don’t ignore the little transactions. Some agents get spoiled on selling only high end homes. Build a solid business now, and you will be positioned very well for the future.

- Focus on your work. “Give your customers something that nobody else is giving them,” says Ted. For example, take extra pictures of homes and creates an email slideshow for customers.

- Being successful requires constant perseverance and hard work!

We look forward to having you in attendance at our next webinars. For more information on upcoming webinars, please email joy@househunt.com.

The fastest way to get from point A to point B is a straight line.

Your real estate career is a journey. Point A is where your business is right now. Point B is where it will be at the end of the year. With HouseHunt.com’s ABC (Activity Brings Choice) Business Plan, you’ll provide yourself with a road map to your desired destination. Our plan allows you to constantly monitor your progress toward your goals and when you deviate from the plan, it will guide you back on track. The Result: prospering as you never imagined possible like the thousands of agents already helped by HouseHunt.com!

If you haven’t created your free business plan for 2010 yet, click here to start!

Mark Spoto has been a real estate in Florida for over five and half years. Four of those years, Spoto has been a “loyal member of HouseHunt.”

“The system has worked so well for me in terms of helping my annual productivity levels and relationship building with current and past clients,” Spoto says, “that I have purchased a total of six territories that I am personally managing. I started out with two territories and have since grown from that point.”

Since starting with HouseHunt, Spoto has averaged between 15 – 20 closing per year from HouseHunt-generated business; even in 2009, Spoto is expecting about 18 closings from HouseHunt. “In other words, these numbers would be higher if the market conditions were stable,” says Spoto. “This certainly makes me feel confident about how productive I can be as an individual when the market turns around.”

By his own account, the bulk of Spoto’s income and business comes from the

HouseHunt system. The system works and agents receive quality leads! In Spoto’s own words, “HouseHunt is ‘recession proof.”

“I have even had buyers calling me lately inquiring about properties for sale from just visiting my web sites without me having to make personal contact with the buyers first,” Spoto says. “This is a great benefit to have as a hard-working Agent!”

Maureen D’Aiutolo has been in the real estate business for awhile and has known the Internet was a powerful tool for agents. The problem was that Maureen wasn’t technologically savvy.

“My ability with technology is very limited… yes, I am a BOOMER,” Maureen explained.

Still, Maureen knew she needed to find a way to plug in to the growing world of online real estate. She knew relying on a company with expertise in this area was a must if she was going to take advantage of the potential and combine the two.

In early 2009, Maureen was introduced to the HouseHunt system and quickly realized she found the right link between real estate and technology. She joined our team as the exclusive agent for North Bethesda, MD and eagerly plugged herself into our training.

The result has been swift and effective, just as Maureen anticipated.

“Within one week, I was working with a motivated and qualified buyer. He subsequently bought a home,” Maureen said. “Two months later, his mother bought from me as well.”

Within two months, Maureen closed two more transactions with buyers from her HouseHunt territory.

“I am delighted,” Maureen said. “Four closed deals in seven months have more than paid for my investment AND I have increased my referral potential several fold.”

Maureen also explained what a pleasure it was working with HouseHunt’s Customer Service department. She said her representative spent a great deal of time helping her and making this all work.

Maureen trusts HouseHunt to be the online experts and bring in the opportunities. It’s a perfect match of real estate and technology that has quickly grown Maureen’s successful real estate business.

“I am looking forward to even more success in the upcoming year,” Maureen concluded.

As we get head long into the second half of 2009, some agents have the tools needed to make money and build for their real estate future at their fingertips, while others… are just hoping they’ll still be in business by the time the market “turns around.”

HouseHunt.com exclusive member agents don’t let market shifts determine their business. They have the tools and a complete real estate system that gives them the ability to meet their goals, exceed projected commissions, and have a business that will continue to grow regardless of the market’s status.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s several of our agents in their own words:

“Your system is a ‘Secret Weapon,’ I’d love to keep it a secret, but that’s not the way I work. There are more than enough leads out there for everyone. Why be greedy?”
- Kim Thomson, Keller Williams Realty, Valencia, CA

“I have closed eight HouseHunt leads totaling $2,371,000.00 in sales with commissions of $64,556.00 since signing up with HouseHunt in March 2009.”
- Troy E. Jensen, Keller Williams Realty, Vancouver, WA

“I have to tell you I am blown away by the leads on the HouseHunt site! My 1″ notebook is just about bulging at the seams and I am just into April!”
- Julie Wienke, Prudential, Thousand Oaks, CA

“I received a return call from a HouseHunt visitor wanting to sell a home in Indianapolis. I sold that home for $180K. They then sold their personal home for $550K and I sold them one for $340K. Then they bought one for $280K on contract because their kids didn’t like the new schools. Then I sold them an investment property for $100K. I also sold three small rentals they had that totaled about $95K. The total gross closed commission on that lead was about $36,500. I still find that if one is paying attention and providing true service, the [HouseHunt.com] has been profitable every year for the 5 or so years I’ve been involved. For what more could your customers ask?”
- Steve Gaines, CENTURY 21 Landtree, Greenwood, IN

“2008 was my best year to date. HouseHunt produced half of my closed volume, including the most expensive home I have ever sold,”
- Sandy Howard. Keller Williams Realty @ Baxter Village, Fort Mill, SC

“I decided to give [HouseHunt.com] a try in early 2008, purchasing one site here in the Boise, Idaho area. I started getting good buyer leads immediately and began to fill my pipeline… As those leads matured and the housing market started to improve in early 2009, I can honestly say that HouseHunt leads are my primary source of buyer leads… I have now purchased another HouseHunt area and am now filling my pipeline for that city as well… My prediction will be that for the 2nd half of 2009 that at least 60% of my closings will be HouseHunt leads.”
- Jeff Stewart, Stewart Realty, Meridian, ID

“I have been a loyal member of HouseHunt for more than 4 years now and the system has worked so well for me in terms of helping my annual productivity levels and relationship building with current and past clients that I have purchased a total of six territories that I am personally managing… I am averaging anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 with each commission check and I have been consistently closing 15 to 20 transactions per year with the HouseHunt system since I first started… I have even had Buyers calling me lately inquiring about properties for sale from just visiting my web sites without me having to make personal contact with the Buyers first.  This is a great benefit to have as a hard-working Agent! HouseHunt is ‘recession proof’ as long as you are willing to work hard and take the time to learn and utilize the system.”
- Mark Spoto, Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc., Tampa, FL

“The system works…HouseHunt has really provided me with buyers that I wouldn’t have had.”
-Matthew Danver, Keller Williams Florida Partners, Ormond Beach, FL

“Wow, since I’ve been writing this email, five new prospective clients looked at properties on my site and entered their full name, addresses, and phone numbers. I’ve got to get back to work! I would not have this Real Estate business without HouseHunt. I feel very fortunate to have found you.”
- Karen Taussig, Karen Taussig Realty, INC., Oxnard, CA

“I depend solely on HouseHunt for my livelihood and can’t imagine doing business without my HouseHunt leads.”
- Lori Cheek, Charles Rutenberg Realty, Clearwater, FL

“I closed eleven transactions with HouseHunt so far this year. Working on number twelve as we speak.”
- Rod Sullivan, Solid Source Realty, Jonesboro, GA

“We have had a most profitable year in working with our HouseHunt data base in the sales generated solely due to leads that we attained from HouseHunt hits just within the last 7 years. Not only have we been able to work with and close YTD for 2009 over 4 million dollars in residential sales we were able to close 3 additional sales just on referrals from our HouseHunt customers resulting in an additional 1.6 million. Having a HouseHunt advertising budget has in one way or another always resulted in a positive financial result many times over.”
- Duke Parmelly, 2005 HouseHunt Hall of Fame, Keller Williams, Santa Maria, CA.

HouseHunt.com member agent Jason Holt, of Keller Williams Capitol Properties, in Washington DC is new to HouseHunt, but not  new to putting in the extra steps that separate the great agents from the rest of the pack.

Holt, who represents the Capitol Hill territory, recently shared a story about successfully closing a lead that most agents categorize as a bad lead: someone who had already been working with another agent off an on for a year.

As it turned out, Jason got along with the buyer far better than the other agent had. As a result, after a few conversations and precise questioning, the client decided to meet with Jason to look at some properties. That meeting lead to Jason being able to sign a buyer’s agreement with the client.

From there, I think we know where this story is headed… Jason was able to close the deal with a client that many other agents would have left along the side of the road without so much as a second thought!